Phat Buddha Chinese Vietnamese Cafe & Restaurant, White Plains Quezon City

Phat Buddha is a Café Restaurant located along White Plains in Quezon City that specializes in Chinese-Vietnamese cuisine. Operated by The Spoonstories Inc., the same people behind the famous Bawai’s and Smokin’ Cues, Phat Buddha is poised to set its place in our local restaurant scene by offering fresh and spirited taste of Vietnam coupled with fascinating flavors of China. 

“Phat” means Buddha in Vietnamese, which makes this restaurant’s name depicts subdued repetition – “Buddha Buddha”.   Although a relatively new player in the field, Phat Buddha already established several solid items on their menu that best represent them which also people likes. 

These includes variety of Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Beef Hotpot, Braised then Grilled Soy Pork Belly, Crispy Salt and Pepper, Sweet and Sour Squid, and Vietnamese Coffee just to name a few. Since it shares the same space with Smokin' Cue, diners may also enjoy ribs and barbecue items that the establishment is known for. 

A Revisit to Lola Cafe and Bar, Quezon City

I have blogged about Lola Cafe and Bar in Quezon City way back and have paid them a visit several more times after that. Some with old time friends, others with family, and the recent one which I am writing about right now was with some of my favorite Manila bloggers. 

Despite several competitors rapidly sprouting, it is still one of my favorite restaurants in Tomas Morato Quezon City area. Hence, a bloggers' lunch to check out new additions to Lola Cafe and Bar Menu highlights an excitement one weekend which would have been ordinary otherwise.

Since Lola's opening several years back, its residential-turned-into-restaurant charm is still palpable. There are several changes that transpired in terms of its appearance, menu, and the likes, but its vision to serve good food thankfully is still ever the same. 

Dolcelatte, Quezon Ave: The Cheese Stories Experience #DolcelatteCheeseStories

I recently visited Dolcelatte along Quezon Ave. in Quezon City to check out their new lines of dishes tagged as #DolcelatteCheeseStories collectively. Dolcelatte believes in that the art of cheese pairing never gets old - a belief I also believes in. Hence, these new dishes added to their menu essentially have cheese as the main star.

To say no to an opportunity to feast on cheese-laden food is a capital sin in my book, much like winging a breakfast devoid of bacon. So I find my merry way to Dolcelatte one day and let myself be swayed by the awesomeness of the dining experience they offer.

It was my first time at Dolcelatte and by the time that I am finished with my meal, I almost punch myself in the face for letting years pass without even checking them out. Needless to say, they blew me way.

Eighteen Bistro at Sct. Rallos, Quezon City

Recent restaurant adventure led me to Eighteen Bistro located at Sct. Rallos in Quezon City - one of the newest restaurants to hit Tomas Morato area restaurant landscape. A food business clothed with passion that a family running it has needle and thread for, Eighteen Bistro specializes in well-loved homemade dishes which recipes that span from generation to generation.

Fighting its way in our local food scene peppered with businesses boasting of their own family recipes, Eighteen Bistro which opened just this year harbors no illusion of indispensability. Yet, their firm grasp on what they offer best and their flair for offering enticing promo such as the 18-peso cocktails serve as one of their strongest suits.

Finding myself along Tomas Morato area is a rarity these days ever since I moved to the mountainous East. But there are some gut feel I trust with unequivocal certainty. That day, my gut threw a nod of approval and hinted that the travel will be worth it. As I expected - it was.

THE BUFFET International Cuisine, Quezon City

I have to admit, I am one of those who is in constant search for the best and affordable buffets in Manila. So, when the chance to try The Buffet International Cuisine along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City presented itself, it became a persistent call that I couldn't bend my conscience quite enough to ignore. A handful of Manila food bloggers have shared their experience about The Buffet so, I figured it was high time to try it myself.

The Buffet specializes in international dishes with emphasis in interactive approach to dining experience brought about by several buffet sections. This interactive spin on the buffet encourages diners to create their own food based on their liking and have the friendly chefs prepared it for them. There is also a buffet section wherein diners can cook their own food on their respective tables.

The location of The Buffet is hard to miss. Standing along the busy street of Commonwealth Avenue, right beside Nissan Commonwealth. It's facade holds big signage of its name visible even if you are situated right across the location or even in a moving vehicle. 

Mad For Pizza in Tomas Morato: Create Your Own Pizza with Toppings-All-You-Want!

Mad For Pizza is a new pizza restaurant located at Il Terrazzo Center in Tomas Morato, Quezon City that specializes in Create-Your-Own-Pizza concept with Toppings-All-You-Want up its sleeves to boot. Several Manila food bloggers have raved about Mad For Pizza PH in the past week that caused an excitement for pizza lovers like myself. Do-It-Yourself Pizza with unlimited toppings at an affordable price? Why not?

Restaurants along Tomas Morato area are aplenty, but with the kind of food that Mad For Pizza offers, it is indeed a welcome addition.

I got to visit Mad For Pizza at Il Terrazzo one afternoon to try their Create-Your-Own-Pizza and have fun with the Toppings-All-You-Want concept of it. I was not expecting too much prior to the visit because all I really wanted was to check out their pizza offerings. Little did I know, that afternoon at Mad For Pizza, I am in for one of the best dining experiences I have had by far, all things considered.

Hanamaruken Ramen in Trinoma: Serving Happiness in a Bowl

Hanamaruken Ramen located at Trinoma Mall in Quezon City is one of the new additions to the perpetually growing list of ramen places in Manila. With over 40 branches in Osaka Japan, Hanamaruken Ramen boasts of its Tonkotsu-Shoyu based soup ramen topped with a slab of slow-braised tender pork rib. This signature dish aptly called "Happiness Ramen" is said to be the reason of Hanamaruken Ramen's fame.

For the first time in 30 years, Arakawa Pork Company, the strong force behind Hanamaruken Ramen, decided to branch out this Osaka's favorite ramen place and land at the shore of Manila. Having their first branch outside of Japan, founder Takaku Arakawa aims to spread happiness in Manila by means of their carefully crafted ramen.

Most of the ramen enthusiasts I know got excited with the coming of Hanamaruken Ramen here in the Philippines, and I could not blame them. This has been claimed to be one of Osaka's favorites therefore it holds a certain honor to it. So, while I am not the one who can go crazy over ramen, I wouldn't pass up on having my fair share of a promise of happiness in a bowl.

Mrs. Graham's Macaron Café at Sct. Rallos in Quezon City

First time I have encountered Mrs. Graham’s Macaron was during the Best Food Forward last year. I could still remember how their Pancake with Maple Buttercream left a pleasant impression on me. Fast forward to 2014, Mrs. Graham's finally opened a café at Sct. Rallos in Quezon City.

There are plenty of restaurants and desserts places around Tomas Morato area, but Mrs. Graham's Macaron Café is definitely a welcome addition as it offers not just your ordinary macarons, but those which you cannot find else where. That is alongside many other delectable sweets and pastries they are offering.

This newest and most innovative macaron place I have encountered by far brings standard and not-so-standard macarons in the metro. It offers a handful of creative spin to the ordinary macaron, some more appealing than others, but all are worth trying out.